Royal Flying Corps

The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the air arm of the British Army from 13 April 1912 to 1 April 1918, taking part in World War I. At the start of the war, the RFC was used mostly for reconnaissance, but its line of work led it to take part in combat against Imperial German Air Service forces, leading to the RFC having a growing number of fighters and bombers. Later in the war, it strafed soldiers and emplacements, bombed German military airfields, and took part in the strategic bombing of German transport and industrial facilities. In 1918, the RFC merged into the Royal Air Force. At its height in 1918, the RFC had 3,300 aircraft and 5,182 pilots.